A Federal High Court in Katsina State has sentenced a female arms courier, Hauwa’u Mukhtar, to death by hanging after she was found guilty of conspiracy to commit terrorism and aiding and abetting terrorist activities. The conviction was secured by the Department of State Services (DSS), marking its second death sentence-related victory in June.
Mukhtar was arrested on September 16, 2023, by DSS operatives at Jibia Motor Park in Katsina State while allegedly attempting to transport 438 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition to a suspected bandit kingpin identified as Ado, who is said to operate within the Dunburum Forest axis of Zamfara State.
She was arraigned on a two-count charge before High Court No. 3, Katsina, presided over by Justice A. B. Bawale. After reviewing the evidence presented—including witness testimonies, exhibits tendered in court, and final addresses from both prosecution and defence counsel—the court held that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt on both counts.
The court subsequently sentenced Mukhtar to death by hanging in line with the provisions of the Katsina State Penal Code Law, 2021.
Security sources described the ruling as a significant milestone for the DSS, noting that it reflects the agency’s capacity not only to intercept suspected criminal actors but also to secure convictions through sustained prosecution.
The latest judgment comes weeks after a Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced four men to death for their involvement in the June 5, 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State, which resulted in the killing of more than 40 worshippers.
In another related case, the Abuja court also recently sentenced Halima Haliru Umar to 20 years’ imprisonment for unlawful possession of 302 rounds of AK-47 ammunition and attempting to provide material support for terrorist activities, underscoring a series of recent convictions secured by the DSS in terrorism-related prosecutions.
